brave
brave
Pronunciation
brave: /breɪv/
Syllable 1: /breɪv/
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximate
/eɪ/ - diphthong (as in "say")
/v/ - voiced labiodental fricative
Word Form Variations
Adjective: brave (singular)
Adverb: bravely
Noun:
brave (singular, referring to a person, especially in historical contexts of Native American warriors)
braves (plural, referring to people)
bravery (abstract noun)
Verb:
brave (base form, present tense - I brave)
braves (present tense, third person singular - he/she/it braves)
braving (present participle)
braved (past tense, past participle)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective:
Definition 1: Possessing or showing courage; ready to face and endure danger or pain without showing fear.
Synonyms: courageous, valiant, fearless, intrepid, daring, heroic, bold
Antonyms: cowardly, timid, fearful, craven, chickenhearted
Noun:
Definition 1: (Historical) A Native American warrior.
Synonyms: warrior, fighter, braveheart
Antonyms: (Context-dependent; no direct antonym in this specific sense)
Verb:
Definition 1: To confront or face (danger, difficulty, or pain) with courage.
Synonyms: confront, face, defy, endure, withstand, tackle, weather
Antonyms: avoid, evade, shirk, dodge, flee, retreat from
Examples of Use
Books:
"It takes a brave man to be a coward in a world where bravery is rewarded." (Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage, 1895)
"The brave new world that Aldous Huxley imagined in his dystopian novel continues to resonate with contemporary readers."
Newspapers:
"Firefighters were praised for their brave actions in rescuing residents from the burning building." (The Guardian)
"The article highlighted the brave decision of the CEO to step down amidst the company's financial struggles." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"How to be brave in the face of uncertainty: Tips from psychologists." (Psychology Today)
"Researchers are braving extreme conditions in the Arctic to study climate change." (National Geographic Online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In Disney's animated film Brave (2012), Princess Merida braves tradition and destiny to forge her own path.
Music: The song "Brave" by Sara Bareilles (2013) encourages listeners to speak their minds and be courageous.
Television: "The contestants had to brave a series of challenging obstacles in the wilderness survival show." (Discovery Channel)
Video Games: Players often control characters who must brave dangerous landscapes and formidable enemies to complete quests in games like The Legend of Zelda.
General Public Discourse:
"It was incredibly brave of her to share her story publicly."
"We need to be brave and stand up for what's right, even when it's difficult."
"He braved the storm to get help for his family."
"The community showed immense bravery in the aftermath of the disaster."
10 Quotes Using Brave
"The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." (Nelson Mandela)
"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends." (J.K. Rowling)
"We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world." (Helen Keller)
"Fortune favors the brave." (Virgil)
"Bravery is believing in yourself, and that thing nobody can teach you." (El Cordobes)
"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." (Elmer Davis)
"Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts." (Aristotle)
"Can a man still be brave if he's afraid? That is the only time a man can be brave." (George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones)
"It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived." (Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird)
Etymology
The word "brave" has a fascinating journey through different languages!
It comes to us from the Old French word "brave," which originally meant "courageous, valiant." Before that, it's thought to have come from the Old Italian word "bravo," meaning "courageous" or "wild, untamed."
The very first known uses of "brave" in English, around the early 16th century (specifically the 1500s), reflected this meaning of courageous or daring. It was used to describe someone who faced danger or difficulty without fear.
Interestingly, the Italian "bravo" also had an earlier sense related to wildness, like a wild animal, or even a boastful person. Over time, the sense of courage became the dominant one as it passed into French and then into English. So, at its core, "brave" has always been about facing something challenging with strength and spirit.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Brave
Brave new world: A new, often technologically advanced, era or situation, sometimes with an ironic or dystopian undertone.
Brave face: To pretend to be happy or confident when one is not. (e.g., She put on a brave face despite the bad news.)
Brave the elements: To face or endure harsh weather conditions.
Brave the storm: To face a difficult or dangerous situation with courage.
Brave enough to: Having sufficient courage to do something.
Be brave, be bold: An encouragement to act with courage and confidence.
Only the brave: Suggests that a particular task or challenge is only suitable for those with significant courage.
Valiant effort: A very determined and courageous attempt.
Heart of a lion: Possessing great courage and bravery.
Bold as brass: Very confident and unafraid, sometimes to the point of being impudent.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of brave from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
